“I’m not sure there is any point. I can’t go near Trewoma and Belinda is staying at a hotel in Truro. It’s called the Royal Hotel—not particularly royal, off the main square. Her solicitor is arriving.”

“I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be here,” he said. “Some of the party have already left.”

“I know. We saw Jago in town,” I said.

“Ah yes. He seemed very concerned about Belinda. Is there something there I don’t know?”

“There could be. He’s definitely interested and so is she. It’s the problem of class, isn’t it?”

“It does seem to be. Silly, isn’t it, but it really matters. Lucky we found each other and you didn’t have to wind up with Prince Siegfried.” He broke off, looking up. “Ah, here we are. This is where I leave you.”

“Do you know when you are coming home?”

He made a face. “I don’t, exactly. I’ll be here at least another day. Then I may be heading over to Dublin.” Then he covered my hand with his own. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing too dangerous. We might already have what we need on Panopolis and his friends. I’ll probably be home shortly after you.” He opened the car door. “And if I wanted to find you? The Royal Hotel with Belinda?”

“I suppose so. She’s not allowed to leave yet and I’ll have to keep her company.”

He nodded. “Many thanks for the lift, ma’am. Nice to have met you.”

And he took off down the driveway just as the raindrops started in earnest.

Chapter 31

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, AND THEN MONDAY, OCTOBER 21

THE ROYAL HOTEL, TRURO, AND OUT AND ABOUT

Feeling a bit at loose ends now that Belinda is off the hook, but I’d really love the police to solve this murder and thus clear Belinda’s name completely.

After such frantic activity it felt strange to have nothing to do. I drove on, up to the entrance to Trewoma. I had been warned to stay away, but I was dying to know if the police might be there yet, searching the grounds for the wagon or the wet towels on the bonfire. I didn’t think they would have burned completely. I was really tempted to try and find one of these things for myself, but I reminded myself it was no longer any of my business. Belinda was no longer suspected and it was up to the police to solve the case. I drove through Rock, lamenting that the bakery was closed and I was awfully hungry, suddenly feeling that I’d like to go home. Back to Eynsleigh, back to Queenie’s cooking—which shows you how low I was feeling.